Budding journalists had a chance to see their stories in print as the Chronicle's new newsroom opened its doors.

Year 11 students from Ashington High School, in Northumberland, were the first pupils to try out the new facility.

It is an exciting new development for our Newspapers in Education department, which has been working with schools and colleges across the North East for more than 10 years to support literacy and numeracy skills.

The newsroom is designed to encourage a better understanding of the media and strengthen links with the Chronicle.

There is an adult drop-in centre for people to do courses and there will be courses on family literacy and about the Internet.

Pupils will be able to use the newsroom to produce their own newspapers and work on the weekly Kron page, which is published in the Chronicle.

The newsroom is kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment with the same systems used by reporters, designers and sub editors in the Chronicle's newsroom.

As part of the sessions pupils will also be invited to have a tour around the Chronicle where they will be able to see what they have been doing mirrored.

The aim is that around 10,000 children will use the newsroom, which is in Stoddart Street, in Newcastle, in the first year.

The setting up and running costs for the first year are around #275,000. The Chronicle has joined forces with a number of local organisations to get the project off the ground.

The adult drop-in centre will be part of Newcastle City Council's UseIT initiative.

Some funding for pupils to use the classroom is coming from Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd, Tyne Wear Education Business Links Organisation, Northumberland Education Business Partnership and Telewest. Patterson Ford has given a minibus which will be used to take children from the classroom to the Chronicle.

To find out more about the newsroom contact Kay Thompson or Lindsey Ridley on (0191) 209 1494.